theories
I'm sorry if these have already come up above, but my time zone is so far behind yours I'd need a frozen donkey wheel to read it all and/or post sooner…

three things
John Locke's ex-girlfriend died of an aneurysm - time-sickness, anyone?

Christian would fit better than Kate. Amended as noted.

JaKoB
Alrighty. This is a *terrible* theory, but I haven't heard it from anyone else yet, so I'm going for it in the hopes of a big win, but already accepting of my eventual death in a fire.

I was in group getting a lecture on basic nutrition (sigh) and they had one of those flip books with some unhealthy food on the left, and vast amounts of delicious healthy food you could have instead on the right. That was the pattern the whole way through, until the last page, which had a lobe of foie gras on the…

Holy crap, than sounds gorgeous.

They also do a foie gras poutine, which I am very very excited about trying when I'm there later this year. It sounds like the perfect food.

I find the best go-to place for insane crap is Don Quixote. I actually found a whole frozen goat there once (I was actually looking for a whole frozen goat, so that's a good thing, but the point still stands).

PW: My sympathies. I know it doesn't help, but there's no creature more grateful than a rescued dog. At least you have its undying affection, which might compensate a bit for the malice your cats are about to rain down on you.

@switters: good point! John Locke joins the interesting group of maybe-embalmed.

If they're in way way back time, does that mean they're in Adam and Eve's era?

I think Hurley's difficulties getting on the flight were a battle between his fate (and/or the island's will) and his very powerful luck. Not sure which one won…

Something Richard and Christian might have in common: they were both embalmed (if Richard has ever been dead at all, which I'm 50/50 on). Richard because he's Egyptian (or Atlantean), Christian because they had to prep him for being transported in the cargo hold after death. Maybe the island uses the bodies that are…

I agree, and fear that this revelation might mean that dear old Eloise is not long for the world, courtesy of Ben.

@Yummsh: Which bit? I'm in a suburban bit of Oahu, so usually only see them when hiking off in the jungle. [cue whispers, sudden downpour]